Branchburg teens help local boy with Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome

BRANCHBURG — A local fundraiser night organized and held by two Branchburg teens at a local Italian restaurant and pizzeria raised over $1,100 to benefit a local boy, Callum Benderoff.
Megan Chuisano and Katie Bryden, both residents of Branchburg and juniors at Somerville High School, recruited the management of Trattoria Uno to team up for a fundraiser night on June 22.
Both teens rallied to action based on the story of Callum and the challenges the Benderoth family face. Their goal was to find a way to help the family defray medical expenses and with support of their school Key Club advisor, Ms. Jessica Cangelosi, the two teens quickly outlined a plan of action.
Plans were finalized with the management of Trattoria Uno restaurant in Branchburg, whose generous donation included 10% from every meal or slice sold that night. And with flyers prepared and put into hundreds of neighborhood mailboxes, the teens were able to pack the restaurant all night.
With a table set up outside to capture those patrons of the restaurant entering or leaving, the teens sold T-shirts, wristbands and solicited cash donations. These donations, along with the generous donation from Trattoria Uno, led to total funds-raised that night at over $1,100 and were given to the Benderoff family.
Callum, a 17-month-old and the youngest of four children, is dealing with a diagnosis of a rare disorder called Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome, or TIS. The lungs of children with TIS cannot grow properly and become compressed, leading to pulmonary complications and without treatment, death. Donations can be made to the attention of: Callum Benderoff Fund, PO Box 7042, Green Brook, NJ 08812.